Responsible Business & Sustainability Manager

TN United Kingdom; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Responsible Business & Sustainability Manager to lead initiatives that drive sustainability and social mobility. This role involves collaborating with senior leadership and managing projects that enhance the firm's commitment to responsible business practices. You will engage with various stakeholders, oversee governance, and develop impactful strategies while fostering a culture of inclusivity and innovation. If you are passionate about sustainability and have a strong background in project management, this is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in an inclusive workplace.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing Responsible Business initiatives and sustainability projects.
• Strong communication and project management skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of the firm’s strategic objectives in Responsible Business.
• Manage relationships with the firmwide charity partner and oversee volunteering programs.

Skills

Project Management

Sustainability Knowledge

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Client Handling

Education

Experience in Responsible Business

Experience in Professional Services

Job description

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Responsible Business & Sustainability Manager, Cardiff

Client:

Lewis Silkin

Location:

Cardiff, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

-

EU work permit required:

Yes

Job Reference:

c89844ac9989

Job Views:

3

Posted:

26.04.2025

Expiry Date:

10.06.2025

Job Description:

Term: Permanent
Working hours: Full-time
Reports to: Chief People Officer
Team: Human Resources Department
Location: London or Cardiff

About us

Successful businesses rely on a unique set of ideas and people. We help our clients protect and develop those vital assets, unlocking possibilities for future success.

From iconic brands and leading multinationals to pioneering start-ups, we are proud to work with a huge range of inspiring clients, helping them to turn their ideas into reality and get the best from - and for - their people.

Our people are not only exceptional at what they do, they also enjoy doing it and consistently give their best to a firm they’re proud to be part of. This stems from our firm culture and our ethos of bravery and kindness. That ethos runs through everything we do, from our approach to recruitment, business practices, and DEI activities to the day-to-day environment in our office and our relationships with clients.

With an internationally minded team of more than 700 working across key areas of law – plus strategic partnerships around the world – we’ve got both the combination and calibre of legal experts it takes to enable our clients’ businesses to thrive. Whether it is providing global employment law advice, managing a global IP portfolio or piecing together a multijurisdictional corporate transaction, we are able to have the right people, in the right place, at the right time.

About the team

This role sits within the Human Resources team which comprises 30 specialist members based in our London, Manchester, and Cardiff offices, working closely together to provide excellent employment conditions for the firm’s people, covering all aspects of the employee lifecycle.

About the role

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, this role will collaborate closely with the DEI and Wellbeing Lead and the Workplace Operations Team. It will lead the Responsible Business Executive Committee, which includes the Chief People Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and three Partners for whom Responsible Business is a secondary responsibility.

The role will lead the development and delivery of the firm’s strategic objectives in Responsible Business across the areas of sustainability, education and social mobility, pro bono, and charity and fundraising.

• Acting as a central point of contact for Responsible Business matters across the firm and providing guidance and advice to colleagues on sustainability matters in projects, such as office moves.
• Overseeing and managing Responsible Business governance including the Responsible Business Committee and the four internal network groups.
• Identifying and developing impact measurement and KPIs for all areas of our Responsible Business programme.
• Enhancing the firm’s employer-supported volunteering offering across all offices, ensuring our programme is inclusive of colleagues across our business.
• Producing an annual Responsible Business Report.
• Project managing our annual carbon audit data collection for scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions in alignment with reporting requirements for our Science-Based Targets.
• Working with senior leadership and external sustainability consultants to deliver and implement our net zero transition plan.
• Submitting to Responsible Business indexes and surveys such as EcoVadis and CDP, liaising with departments across the business to implement recommendations.
• Managing the relationship with the firmwide charity partner ‘Sutton Trust’, including measuring the success of the partnership against the partnership plan.
• Leading on the planning and delivery of our annual Responsible Business Week.
• Developing new policies relating to Responsible Business to drive change across the firm.
• Engaging people across the firm and being a visible advocate for Responsible Business, attending team meetings and presenting at internal events.
• Representing the firm externally across Responsible Business sector groups and forums such as the Legal Sustainability Alliance.
• Developing opportunities to collaborate with clients through Responsible Business activities.
• Working alongside our Marketing and Communications team to update and maintain the firm’s web pages and intranet pages and develop content to bring programmes and initiatives to life.
• Drafting and submitting award submissions.
• Providing materials for client pitches, internal resources, and social media.
• Line management of our Responsible Business Executive.

About you

• Current knowledge of Responsible Business issues, with a focus on sustainability and social mobility.
• Passionate about the role Responsible Business can play in the development of a successful business.
• Excellent communicator with plenty of self-initiative and proven writing skills.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Experience with communications channels, policy development, and financial/budget management.
• Excellent internal client handling skills, with the ability to manage complex relationships.
• Systems thinker, with the ability to see the bigger picture and connect the dots.
• An ability to work with discretion and without significant supervision.
• Regularly prepared to travel to our offices in Cardiff, Oxford, and Dublin to support local Responsible Business initiatives.

Educational and professional qualifications required

• Previous experience of working in Responsible Business and Sustainability within a professional services or voluntary sector environment.

Additional information

At Lewis Silkin, our ethos is simple. We strive to do the best for our clients, our people, and the communities in which we operate. We recognize that an inclusive workplace allows for all kinds of ideas and thoughts, a variety of points of view that can trigger discussions or deliver innovative results, and a wide range of versatile skills and expertise. We are proud of the diversity within Lewis Silkin and of our culture that allows people to be themselves at work, ensuring we provide the best possible service to our clients. We are committed to supporting candidates throughout the recruitment process by supporting anyone who requires adjustments to ensure they have the opportunity to perform at their best. All applicants will be considered equally and fairly. If you’d like to request any adjustments throughout the recruitment process or discuss flexible working patterns, please email the recruitment team in confidence ([email protected]).